Happy Birthday Willie Nelson

Willie Nelson, “Songbird”, with Ryan Adams

In October 2006, Lost Highway Records released Songbird, a collaboration between Willie Nelson and Ryan Adams. The album was produced by Ryan Adams and recorded with the Cardinals, who back up Willie on all 11 tracks, along with Mickey Raphael, on harmonicas.

The album incudes a diverse range of covers: “Stella Blue”, by Jerry Garcia and Roert Hunter, “$1000 Wedding”, by Gram Parson, “Hallelujah” by Leonard Cohen, and the title track, written by Christie McVie, whic originally appeared on Fleetwood Mac’s Rumours album.

Willie and Ryan both wrote new songs just for this album. Willie wrote “Back to Earth”, and Ryan wrote, “Blue Hotel”. Also, there are several of Willies classics on the album: “Sad Songs and Waltzes”, from Shotgun Willie, and “We Don’t Run”, from Spirit.